First a hit movie now it’s hit the great white way as a Broadway musical. The Glen Hansard budgeted Dublin film became the toast of New York entertainment last night after scooping eight Tony awards.
The musical stage show was written by Irish playwright Enda Walsh and was based on the 2006 Oscar-winning film by John Carney, which starred Glen Hansard and Marketa Irglova.
Hansard, lead singer with The Frames wrote the music and lyrics together with his then Czech partner Irglova.
Their song ‘Falling Slowly’ won best original song at the 2007 Academy Awards in LA.
Once the Musical began its Broadway run on March 18 this year after a hugely successful seven-week run off Broadway at the end of 2011. President Michael D Higgins attended the opening night and praised the use of traditional music as well as “all of the fine ironies” in the script, which, he joked, were “about the most substantial resource we have in recent times”.
Amongst the awards it won last night were the Tony for best new musical, best musical performance for actor Steve Kazee, and A Tony for Enda Walsh, for best book of a musical.
Actor Steve Kazee fought back tears as he thanked his cast members, including his leading lady Cristin Milioti, and said after his mother died early on in performances, they “carried me around and made me feel alive and I will never be able to fully repay them.”
Glen Hansard had more than the awards on his mind last night, tweeting at the start of the ceremony: “Wishing all the cast and crew of the Once musical the best of luck for the Tonys tonight in NYC! And the Irish team of course! Ole ole ole!!”
Among the winners on Broadway last night was Gavin and Stacey comic star James Corden, who won Best Dramatic Performance for ‘One Man, Two Guvnors’, which transferred from London’s West End earlier this year.
It is expected that Once will begin it’s international tour given its tremendous and well earned success last night.
